Hinged section power steered vehicle



A ril 29, 1952 N. c. STOREY HINGED SECTION POWER STEERED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 1, 194'? 'jVorman C .S'Zorgy Patenteci Apr. 29. 1952 UNITED STATES Fits-TENT OFFICE 'HINGED' SECTION POWER STEERED VEHICLE Norman 0. Storey, Miami; Fla.

Application December 1, 1947; Serial No. 789,118

scribed in my prior'Patent-No. 1,957,917 and in my Patent No; 2,426,652.

' In the couplings developed heretofore; difficulty has been encountered in obtainingboth maximum pivoting or hinging'movementbetween the connected units and maximum eificiency in the transmission of power from one 'unitto the otherduring hinging movement and while the units are intheir extreme hinged or pivoted positions.

An object of. this invention is to provide a hinged coupling betweenunits, in'which power is transmitted from one unit totheo'ther and'in which the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hinging coupling between two units in which each unit has atoothed sector rigid therewith meshing with a similar toothed sectorofitheotherunit and the units are connected bya link pivotally connected to each unit about a pivot concentric with the center of the toothedsector thereof.

A further object of this-invention is to provide a hinging coupling between two units in which each unit has a toothed-sector rigid therewith meshing with a similar toothed'sector of the other unit and the units are connected by 9. link pivotally connected to each unit about a pivot concentric with the center ofthe toothed sector thereof; and in which a power transmitting shaft of one unit is connected with a similar shaft of the other unit through double universal joints,

- the pivoting axis of one universal joint coinciding with the vertical axis of the toothed sectorofone unit and the pivoting axis of the other universal joint coinciding with the vertical axis of the toothed sector of the other unit.

Still another objectof this invention is to provide a hinging coupling between two. units in which each unit has atoothed sector rigid there- .withmeshing with. a similar KtOOthEdSBCtOl of. the "other. unitand .the .units :are connected" by, a. link ipivotallyconnected to: each unit about a pivot ISO-79.2

- 2 concentric: with the center iofxthe toothed sector thereof, wandin which means :is carried. "bysone unit for. pivoting the link relativev thereto .and

causing relative swingingmovement between the toothed sectors andunits.

With these and other objects in .view whichiwill appear more fully hereinafter,. ther.presentz:invention residesin the parts and combinations illustrated in thefdrawings and 'set forth in-the following description.

' In the drawings:

Figure lis an elevational-view of a'tra'ctor:embodying' the: principlesof thepresent invention with parts of the housing cutiaway to. illustrate the gearing and coupling connections;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary planview of atractor with the motor removed and partJof the forward and rearframes cut away;

Figure 3is a more or less diagrammatic representation of a modified form .:of steering mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to "Figure Bshowing another'modified form of steering mechanism.

. Figure 5 is a verticalsectional view'taken on line 5-*5.:of Figure 1 forward of the hydraulic control showing the connections fromv the steering 'control to the steering cylinders.

As shown more particularly in Figures 1.and.2, a tractor constructed according to the present invention comprises a frame or chassis having a front section or unit I supportedon a truck frame 2: and a rear section .or .unit 3. .The. front .and

rear sections or units and 3 are joined together by a coupling embodying the feature of. the present invention.

As shown :in Figures 1' and 2, the upperand lower plates iand 5 of the rear. portion'iofthe front unit i and the upper and lowerplates 6 and I of the "front portion of .the rear unit are I end by pivot I2 'to the center of toothed sector 5. and'atits rear end by pivot i3 to the center of toothed sector I.

It will .bexn'otedthat. pivot pins ill and 12V are .in vertical alignment and .that pins. Land 13 are;:in: werticalr' alignment. Also, it-Lshould be helical that :.'the "toothed??- sectors are i ofsubstantially the same radius. With this arrangement, hinging or pivoting of the two units l and 3 will take place about the two vertical pivotal axes, passing through pins l0, l2 and H, 13 respectively. Trunnion bearings 14 and I are provided for supporting the front section I on the truck frame 2.

As illustrated, truck frame 2 is fitted with axle housing 16 whereas the rear section is supported on axle housing I7. It should be understood that the axles in these housings are operatively connected by means of suitable differentials contained respectively in housings l8 and 19 associated with the axle housings.

Since the details of these differentials are well known in the art, they are not further illustrated herein. The differentials are driven by worm gears 20 and 2|, which mesh with worms 22 and 23, respectively.

Truck frame 2 supporting the front section I is carried on the two drive wheels 24 and the rear section 3 is carried on the two rear drive wheels 25. Both sets of wheels 24 and 25 are driven by a motor 26 through a suitable transmission as described in my Patent No. 1,957,917. This transmission is driven by the rearwardly extending drive shaft 2'! of motor 26.

Shaft 27 is coupled by a double universal joint 28-29 to a shaft on the rear section, it being noted that the universal joint 28 is so disposed with respect to the axis of pivot ID, I2 and universal joint 29 is so disposed relative to the axis of pivot H, 13 that the shaft 36 will always be rotated regardless of the position of the sections with respect to each other.

Shaft 30 which may be termed the driving shaft terminates in a clutch, the housing of which is designated 3 I and which connects the shaft 30 to a driven shaft 32. The clutch may be of any usual construction and may be operated by an actuating lever, not shown. The end of the shaft 32 may be used as a power outlet and for this purpose may be constructed for coupling to any suitable device to be driven as disclosed in my abovementioned Patent No. 1,957,917. A suitable cover designated by reference character 33 may be provided for encasing the power take-01f end of shaft 32.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 32 are transmission gears 34 adapted to mesh with gears 35 on a differential housing 36 having an axis parallel to the shaft 32. The gears 34 may be shifted by'means of a lever 31 in order to obtain various gear ratios to govern the transmission between the shaft 32 and the differential housing 35.

Housing 36 has mounted therein a differential gearing, the details of which are shown and described in my Patent No. 1,957,917. Extending rearwardly from the differential housing is a propeller shaft 38 which carries the worm 23 and extending forwardly from the differential housing is another propeller shaft 39 which is connected through a double universal joint 49, 4! to the propeller shaft 42 carrying the worm 22 meshing with the worm gear 25. By this arrangement, the motion transmitted to the differential housing 35 is communicated and distributed to the shafts 38 and 38 and the differential provides a flexible connection permitting the shafts to rotate at different speeds with respect to each other. A suitable clutch may be associated with the differential within the housing 36 as described in my above-mentioned Patent No. 1,957,917 to lock the differential which may be desirable when driving over terrain in which the traction between (ill the driving wheels and the surface over which they are traveling is low and irregular.

As hereinbefore indicated, the front section is supported on the truck frame 2 by means of longitudinally extending trunnion bearings 14 and 15 which with the universal joints permit side tipping of the front wheels in a manner similar to that which is set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,623,214.

Steering of the tractor is effected by causing pivoting movement of the front and rear units simultaneously about the two vertical axes, the first passing through pivots illl2 and the second passing through the pivots l I-l3. The present invention differs primarily from that of my prior Patent No. 1,957,917 and from that of my prior Patent No. 2,426,652 in that pivoting of the front and rear units takes place about separate spaced pivoting axes l0l2 and H'l3 instead of a single axis.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, link 9 is in the form of a plate having pins 43 and 44 secured on opposite sides of a line passing through the centers of pivots l2 and I3. Plungers 45 and 46 are pivoted at their outer ends to pins 43 and 44 and are slidably mounted in the open end of cylinders 47 and 48. The outer or closed ends of cylinders 41 and 48 are pivotally connected by pins 49 and 50 to a rigid portion of the rear unit 3.

Adjacent the closed end of each cylinder there is provided a port 51 for the inflow and outflow of actuating fluid supplied through conduits 52 and 53 from a hydraulic control distributing device 52 mounted on the rear unit 3. Conduits 52 and 53 include flexible portions to permit movement of cylinders 41 and 48 relative to the frame. The hydraulic pump, control and distributing device comprises an oil reservoir having a filler opening closed by a plug 55. The hydraulic pump, control and distributing device is identical to that described in my Patent No. 2,426,652 mentioned hereinbefore. As in this prior patent, the pump shaft carries a sprocket 56 connected by a chain 51 to a sprocket 58 on shaft 30.

A steering wheel 59 is provided and operates a valve in the hydraulic steering control 54 through steering column 60, universal joint GI and shaft 62 which passes through a packing gland, as in my Patent No. 2,426,652. Thus, depending upon the position of steering wheel 59 and the valve controlled thereby, liquid will flow to one of the cylinders 41, 48 and be discharged from the other, or the flow to and from both cylinders will be shut off.

v Hydraulic steerage of the tractor may be effected with means other than those just described. For instance, as indicated in Fig. 3, two plungers or pistons 63 connected by a rack 64 or an integral structure may be disposed in cylinders 65 and 66 connected by conduits 52 and 53 to the control and distributing device. Rack 64 meshes with a toothed sector 6 formed on the rear portion of link 9a.

can be easily effected by ijcausing". the link tion 3 about the pivot I8. ,Due to the toothed .;-9a/--5b to be displaced relative tojth'e rear sec- I55 -connection-between thestoothed -sectors 4,: 5. and 5, 1, relative rotary" movement between. the "11inks 9;-etc.- and the 'rearunit" 3. will cause the *units' l and 3 :topivot about their respective axes 40, 12: and I I, l3; thereby obtaining a maximum "i steering. movementiora relatively small rotary movementbetween-the links andthe rear unit.

Dueto the locationof the universal joints in lthe'drive shaftsin-alignment withfthe axes l0; l2

, and?! I, :13, thetransm-ission of poweiifrom'unit Into .unit 3 canlbe satisfactorily accomplished raregardlessaof the position of units l ancl'3 with respect to, .each other.

.iThe hydraulic ;pump;valve and means of opersatiommayxbe ofany-conventional type and also:

-jthe:ttractors"transmission may be arranged to drive'thetractor the same speeds-in eitherdirection.

:Als0,;-the-rear :sectiongmay be supported for --tilting- :movement'on a truck frame similar to :truck, frame 2. -In-this instance, however, the

xifrontrsec-tion would-be rigidly mounted on the 1..In a hinged coupling comprising two sec- 1 "tions, each section being symmetrical about a horizontal center line running through the said hinged coupling, each section having an upper and lower member provided with gear teeth -:a'r-ranged about a vertical pivoting axis passing 1 throughsaid center line, the. said pivoting axis of the said-upper and lower members of eachsection being concentric with each other, a linkageconnecting the two said sections together with the gear teeth of the said upper and lower members meshing with each other and with the pivoting axis of one section spaced from that oftheother, said linkage being pivoted to said sections on the said vertical pivoting axes, thus permitting a swinging movement of said sections about the said vertical pivoting axes with said teeth meshing and keeping the two said sections in the proper relation with each other, and steering means operatively connecting the linkage and one of said sections, said steering means includr' ing an element mounted on said last mentioned section and movable with respect to said last mentioned section, and means connecting said movable element to said linkage at a region of the latter eccentric with respect to the pivoting axis connecting the linkage with said last mentioned section on which the element is movably mounted so that movement of said element relative to said last mentioned section will effect relative pivotal movement of the linkage and said last mentioned section and thus cause the two sections to change their positions with relation to each other.

2. In a tractor comprising two pivotally connected sections, each section having an upper and lower member provided with gear teeth arranged about a vertical pivoting axis, a linkage connecting said sections, said linkage being pivoted to each section about said vertical axis, said vertical pivoting axes being laterally spaced, said linkage connecting the two sections together with the gear teeth of the upper members meshing with each other and with the gear teeth. of the lower members meshing with each other, and steering means operativeiy connecting linkage and one of said sections, said steering means 1 including an element-mounted on said last? mentioned section and: :movable with :respect .toxsa id last mentioned-.1 section,: and .zmea ns; connecting said movable .elementztosaid linkage at azregion o'fithelatter eccentric with-respect to the pivoting axis connecting the :linkage with said-last:men-

. itioned section .on which; the velement.=.is;1n0v.ab1y mounted. so thahmovement :of said element .rela- 1 tive-to :said. lash-mentioned section will: effect l0 relative1pivotal movement cf the linkagerand said last:mentioned section .to effect swinging move- ;Mmentxofsaid sectionsxabout saidzpivoting axes.

1,13. t-In-, at tractor a comprising two ipivotally .con- :nected sections, l'ea'chrsection having: anupperrand :lowerimember providedwith gear'teeth arranged about a vertical pivoting axis, a linkage connectpingrsaid'; sections,;said linkage, being; pivoted to eacha'section: about; said vertical .axis,'--said veritical; pivoting axes; .ibeing. laterally. spacedssaid -.;:the. gear teeth .of .the upper members meshing with each other -and with; the gear. teeth "of. :the ,lower members meshing with each other,::said :linkag'e having a gear toothed sector thereon con- .:linkage with one section, and-imeans .movably .linkage connecting the "two sections. togetherrwith centric with the vpivoting. axis connecting: the

. .mounted on said. last vmentioned 1 section" havin ac-toothed portion .in mesh :with: said toothed sector and. cooperating vtherewith for: effecting 1 relative ipivotal'movement ofthe linkage andsaid last. mentioned: 'secti0n .-11p0nl movement of: said .:movably. .mounted. means, to-. efiect swinging wmovement of. said-sections. about: said pivoting .axes.

5.1.4.2111 a tractorrcomprising two .pivotally'connected sections,.:each1-;section having an 1 upper (and lower-1 member provided with :gearteethar- 1: manged. about a'vertical:v pivoting axis, alinkage 1 connecting said. sectionsxsaid linkage beingipiv- :oted toeach section about said vertical axis; said :lvert'ical :pivoting. :axes 'being:laterallyzspacedr said .i-zlinkageconnectingsthe two sections togetherwith the gear teeth of the upper members meshing with each other and with the gear teeth of the lower members meshing with each other, at least one hydraulically actuated element movably mounted on one of said sections, and means connecting said movable element to said linkage at a region of the latter eccentric'with respect to the pivoting axis connecting the linkage with said section on which the element is movably mounted so that movement of said element relative to said last mentioned section will efiect relative pivotal movement of the linkage and said last mentioned section to effect swinging movement of said sections about said pivoting axes, and steering mechanism for manually controlling the supply of hydraulic medium to said hydraulically actuated means to efiect steering of said tractor.

5. In a hinged coupling comprising two sections, each section being symmetrical about a horizontal center line running through the said hinged coupling, each section having an upper and lower member provided with gear teeth arranged about a vertical pivoting axis passing through said center line, the said pivoting axis of the said upper and lower members being concentric with each other, a linkage connecting the two said sections together with the gear teeth of the said upper members meshing with each other and with the gear teeth of the lower members meshing with each other, said linkage being pivoted to said sections on the said vertical pivoting axes,. thus permitting a swinging movement of said sections about the said vertical pivoting axes with said teeth meshing and keeping the two said sections in the proper relation with each other, a pair of hydraulic units, each unit comprising a cylinder element open at one end, and a piston element slidably mounted in said cylinder and projecting through said open end, means for pivoting one end of one element of each unit to one of said sections, means for pivoting the outer end of the other element of each unit to said linkage on opposite sides of a line passing through the pivoting axes about which said linkage is pivoted to said sections, and means for controlling the supply and discharge of a fluid under pressure to said cylinders to efiect pivoting of said sections with respect to the linkage and to each other.

6. In a hinged coupling comprising two sections, each section being symmetrical about a horizontal center line running through the said hinged coupling, each section having an upper and lower member provided with gear teeth arranged about a vertical pivoting axis passing through said center line, the said pivoting axis of the said upper and lower members being concentric with each other, a linkage connecting the other, a double acting hydraulically actuated member comprising a cylinder fixed to one of said sections and a plunger slidably mounted therein, means connecting said -plunger to said linkage at a region spaced radially outwardly of the pivoting axis connecting the linkage to the section carrying the cylinder, and means for controlling the supply and discharge of fluid under pressure to the ends of said cylinder to displace the piston therein and effect pivoting movement of the linkage with respect to the section carrying said cylinder to cause the two sections to change their positions with respect to each other.

7. In combination, a hinged coupling connecting two sections of an articulate vehicle chassis in which the two said sections are held in the proper relation to each other by interexchanging teeth, a linkage pivoted to said sections to permit swinging movement with relation to each other, and steering means operatively connecting the linkage and one of said sections, said steering means including an element mounted on said last mentioned section and movable with respect to said last mentioned section, and means connecting said movable element to said linkage at a region of the latter eccentric with respect to the pivoting axis connecting the linkage with said last mentioned section on which the element is movably mounted so that movement of said element relative to said last mentioned section will effect relative pivotal movement of the linkage and said last mentioned section, and power means carried by said last mentioned section for moving said movable element.

NGRMAN C. STOREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,872,714 Farley Aug. 23, 1932 1,957,917 Storey May 8, 1934 2,192,175 Ballard Mar. 5, 1940 2,426,652 Storey Sept. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 441,480 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1936 

